The French Revolution and the Creation of Benthamism

This book offers a completely fresh approach to the study of one the most important ideologies in the modern world. It contains fresh insights into the French Revolution and an explanation of the connection between Bentham's Panopticon and his utilitarianism. The first study of how Genevan Etienne Dumont, and his traumatic experience of the French Revolution, shaped the reception and presentation of 'Benthamism' and masked the true face of Jeremy Bentham, one of the architects of modern society who visualized a new world based on the values of transparency, accountability, and economy The first study of how Genevan Etienne Dumont, and his traumatic experience of the French Revolution, shaped the reception and presentation of 'Benthamism' and masked the true face of Jeremy Bentham, one of the architects of modern society who visualised a new world based on the values of transparency, accountability, and economy. The prevailing view of the English reformer Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) is that he was essentially a moral philosopher and jurist with a penchant for indulging in occasional extravagant and rather mysterious practical projects such as the Panopticon. This book argues that such a view represents a misunderstanding based to a considerable extent on the one-sided view of Bentham presented by his greatest promoter, Etienne Dumont (1759-1829). Dumont's abstracts of Bentham manuscripts published in French in 1802 had a huge influence in the English-speaking world through the translation of part of them under the title Theory of Legislation -- the classic presentation of Benthamism. Dumont's own particular agenda, forged in his traumatic experience of the French Revolution, prevented him however from taking an interest in the 'other' Bentham presented here for the first time: the entrepreneurial figure who sought in Panopticon to embody, not the Orwellian nightmare of state intrusiveness so often assumed, but the cherished modern values of transparency, accountability and economy in public institutions The prevailing view of the English reformer Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) is that he was essentially a moral philosopher and jurist with a penchant for indulging in occasional extravagant and rather mysterious practical projects such as the Panopticon. This book argues that such a view represents a misunderstanding based to a considerable extent on the one-sided view of Bentham presented by his greatest promoter, Etienne Dumont (1759-1829). Dumont's abstracts of Bentham manuscripts published in French in 1802 had a huge influence in the English-speaking world through the translation of part of them under the title Theory of Legislation - the classic presentation of Benthamism. Dumont's own particular agenda, forged in his traumatic experience of the French Revolution, prevented him however from taking an interest in the 1other2 Bentham presented here for the first time: the entrepreneurial figure who sought in Panopticon to embody, not the Orwellian nightmare of state intrusiveness so often assumed, but the cherished modern values of transparency, accountability and economy in public institutions Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction....Pages 1-15 Utilitarianism and Panopticism: The Umbilical Cord....Pages 16-47 Panopticon Dominates Bentham’s Existence....Pages 48-94 The Creator of the Bentham Brand: (1) Dumont the Genevan....Pages 95-131 The Creator of the Bentham Brand: (2) Dumont in the French Revolution....Pages 132-180 The Creator of the Bentham Brand: (3) First Steps in Marketing....Pages 181-199 Dumont’s Goodbye to Revolution: 1791–1793....Pages 200-232 Theory of Legislation (1) : The Gestation of the Traités, 1793–1802....Pages 233-253 Theory of Legislation (2): The Message of the Traités....Pages 254-291 The Impact of the Traités: Benthamism goes Global....Pages 292-314 Back Matter....Pages 315-442 Utilitarianism And Panopticism : The Umbilical Cord -- Panopticon Dominates Bentham's Existence -- The Creator Of The Bentham Brand : (1) Dumont The Genevan -- The Creator Of The Bentham Brand : (2) Dumont In The French Revolution -- The Creator Of The Bentham Brand : (3) First Steps In Marketing -- Dumont's Goodbye To Revolution, 1791-1793 -- Theory Of Legislation (1) : The Gestation Of The Traités, 1793-1802 -- Theory Of Legislation (2) : The Message Of The Traités -- The Impact Of The Traités : Benthamism Goes Global. Cyprian Blamires. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 315-424) And Index.